This Is Where I Want To Be

29. Hierarchy Established Pt 1

Louis

“I don’t think we know each other,” Marcus said, scrutinizing my every move.

“No. Haven’t had the pleasure… I’m European… French. Don’t think we walk in the same circles,” I moved closer and stretched out my hand to him, “Louis Du Pont. Nice to meet you,” he shook it. I didn’t think he would.

“Marcus Ahmed. I’m thrilled to see you here,” he seemed so genuine. “I think we’re in closer circles than you might think… In more ways than one?”

His insinuation wasn’t lost on me… Juliet was the reason we would see a lot of each other if his plans played out. He continued, “My mother was British. And my father… Well, you know who my father is. If you know who I am,” he pointed at the ground and my crushed phone… “I’m not the dramatic type… there was no need for that.”

I scoffed, “Have you changed in the last few years, Marcus?” His eyes snapped up from where he was examining the remains, “From what I’ve heard… You love the dramatics.”

The corners of his eyes crinkled, “So, she thinks about me.” The smile on his face was true to his thoughts. He was pleased... I wanted to kill him. Right there and then, but I was somewhat outnumbered. Jacklin wanted to get rid of Juliet by letting Marcus find her… She didn’t consider that I would probably die before letting that happen. Rodrigo came to mind, and that Marcus was after two prizes. Mr. Tailored was gone before the elevator doors had opened; he smelled him, whereas I heard him. I should have made for the stairs—put up a chase. I sighed; stupid Louis! Sita will be well on her way… If the bag got to her. And if she got in the car and left. I was praying that one thing that night would work out, “You’re looking for two lost sheep tonight? Strange that they keep running away from you... After so long… don’t you think you should give up?”

He stepped closer, right into my face, “Jacklin called you the boyfriend.” Marcus’s eyes drifted down my person and back up, “I can’t see it… You haven’t made it official, have you?” He scoffed and slowly bent down on his haunches, sifting through the rubble. He swiped some of the debris around and slowly came up again. Marcus held out a flat hand with the little card lying there unscathed. I cursed the thing but picked it up. Hopefully, Juliet’s card wasn’t in one of the mutts’ phones or worse, in Chris’s.

“If you think you’re getting a virgin bride back. I would turn around right now,” I thought he would freak out, and was testing him. His thoughts stayed legit. It didn’t make sense, and Marcus’s mouth actually quirked up to one side. The most gigantic-infected vampire I had ever seen came over and held out a phone. “And I kinda feel like making it official should be consensual and not forced,” his eyes hardened at my words—weird what got the guy’s attention. “I also know that making it official has everything to do with... winning her heart first,” I tapped his chest where his heart was supposed to be.

He smiled. I didn’t think he could. “You don’t know why I played it so wrong. Humph,” he threw his hands in the air. “If I can go back. I wouldn’t change a thing.” That made my blood boil. “But for all intents and purposes… She’s mine.” Those words hurt me because I knew how Juliet feared him. And Marcus didn’t know Chris, and I fought about that exact same thing a few weeks ago—I laughed lightly.

“What?” He asked.

“It’s just funny that you think she’s yours at all. Do you know Juliet?” I sighed, “I made the mistake only once. You did as well. Don’t you think we should at least attempt to keep it at one? Let this go… hm.”

Marcus gestured two fingers in the air. The big guy pushed the phone into my face. I stared at it too long, and he growled at me to put the card into the phone. Reluctantly, I did what I was told and handed the phone to Mr. Big Guy—I had to stay true to the naming of the infected.

“Let’s take… Louis here upstairs. Think I need some company tonight. Would love to know what she sees in you.”

I wasn’t going to be lousy company, “She says, uhm… it’s my easy smile.” I gallantly gesture to my big mouth. Which I knew was as smart as Juliet’s at that moment. She was a bad influence on me. I didn’t miss the tightening in his body when I said something he knew came from her.

He bobbed his head and pressed his lips together, “Let’s go.” I held up my hands when the two infected wanted to force me into the elevator. “No need for that!” Marcus reprimanded them. I checked my watch—a little gesture he also didn’t miss. This guy was sharp.

“Waiting for someone?”

“No! Rather hoping that someone got away...” Sita, you better be a million miles by now, I thought to myself.

“Oh, you managed to save the little cub… I commend you. Noble enterprise. But if it wasn’t our darling Juliet, then who could it be?”

“You don’t know what Juliet’s been up to,” His head jerked around at the easy manner I used her name, and he was getting tired that I knew her so well, more than him, and I wasn’t holding back anymore.

The two men ushered me through a large room towards the back wall. They opened a thick steel vault door. Beyond it—cages. Werewolf cages for a full moon. Electric. Entries to feed the beasts in between cells. Wouldn’t want them running around alerting the humans of what was going on. Every werewolf had accountability for that one night a month when they did things they couldn’t control. They turned utterly viral. Maybe Jacklin presented a safe environment for those solo walkers who paid her to look after them. Or perhaps she kept vampires in there. Humans for food. I didn’t know.

After Juliet’s messages, a little hope rose in my breast. Unfortunately, after meeting Marcus, I wished I had never sent her anything. She didn’t hate me anymore. As the time ticked by, I knew Juliet would message me. When she got no answer… Call Sita. Who would also be worried and not have heard from me… And then? If I knew Juliet at all, she would call…

***

Juliet

We were driving back in the car after the cousins, and I were so graciously welcomed by a vampire family. They had been in alliance with the Moors forever and did each other favors. They were such lovely people as well… Almost human… If it wasn’t for the barn full of people they kept. It was a bit creepy and not our usual scene. Even so, I’ve heard about it, and if humans could do it to animals, why could we not do it to humans? Not that I would ever voice that opinion out loud.

Jack exclaimed, “Sita did it! She and your boyfriend did it!”

“Yes! That’s awesome! Is the little girl in one piece?” I asked.

“Not even a scratch,” We all clapped hands and celebrated. I high-fived Jack.

I checked the phone in my hand and sat back when I saw I had no new messages from Louis yet, “But that was more than an hour ago. Where is Louis? He hasn’t texted me. The last one was the one in the elevator with the girl.”

“Well, then you know where he is.”

I slapped Francis on the shoulder, “Louis isn’t like that.”

“All men are like that… And some women,” he pursed his lips at me. It made me laugh a little. I couldn’t deny the weirdness of my situation, having feelings for two guys.

“Maybe dogs!” I had to dig back something.

Jack exclaimed at my timely burn and applauded me for putting his brother down. “Call her Jack, please,” he hesitated but dialed his cousin’s number. She picked up.

“Hey, Sita. You heard anything from Louis?” Jack asked.

“No… I haven’t, and I am getting worried. He would have taken the rental and met me at the Thompson farm.”

“It’s been too long….”

“Yes, I know… And I don’t know what to do!”

“We will call you right back… Hang tight, okay.”

“Yeah,” I heard Sita say, and the line went dead.

I tried his number three times. It was completely dead. That meant his phone was off. Mr. Tailored could have him… Or he could be out of range… No, that would be a no-service dial tone… Was Mr. Tailored going to pump him full of that stuff he gave me? Louis was going to be a Zombie! I freaked out. I called again. I tapped Francis’s shoulder, “Stop the car until we know what to do... It’s ringing… See, I told you,” I whispered. Francis looked annoyed that Louis wasn’t with a hooker. Someone picked up, but they didn’t speak. I was almost peeing in my pants, thinking I would hear Mr. Tailored speak. After a minute of even stubbornness, a voice came out from the other side.

“Hello, Julie…” Marcus’s tone was soft, “Long time no see… Before you hang up… I’m glad you haven’t cheated on me. Louis here graciously let me know you haven’t made it official yet. You know how the compound frowns upon spouses who cheat.”

A chill originated in my neck and shot down my spine, making my lungs contract until I couldn’t breathe. My hands shook slightly. Why would Marcus say that? Had he wholly gone mad? We hadn’t talked in years, and the first thing he said to me was that?! “Your boyfriend here, or that’s what Jacklin called him. He’s fine for now, but we’re having some fun getting some information out of him. Don’t you think your presence could, in fact, help him out?”

Oh… There it was… The reason for the sarcasm. He was reeling me in, “Hi, Marcus.”

Francis and Jack spun around hearing the name after my long tale of the compound in the car that night. I put him on speaker.

“Julie!” Marcus sounded so relieved. He took in a deep breath, his voice softened even more, “I didn’t think you would talk to me,” so much feeling.

I took a deep and lasting breath to get out all the nerves before I had to do what I didn’t want to, “I will see you in an hour or so…?” I asked.

He must have hit a desk or something next to him because I heard the noise. Marcus was excited, “Yes, Julie! That’s a good girl. I can’t wait to see you… Really missed you. I haven’t found anyone like you and never will… Can’t wait to talk to you.”

Was that his way of telling me that he hadn’t cheated? He was going to be sorely disappointed in me, “It’s about time I face you… I had to do a lot of growing up in the last few months. Might as well get it over with. See you in a bit. Make sure we have an escort at the entrance… And Marcus, if you hurt him. Even a little bit. I will make you regret it. I’m not the girl you fell in love with.”

“All ready for you, Julie... Let’s talk when you get here.”

My chest tightened even more, if it was at all possible, hearing him call me Julie, sounding so sweet. His mouth was like honey when he wanted it to be. He said precisely what you wanted to hear, just like Louis. I hung up the phone. A tear rolled down my cheeks; I was faking again. Francis rubbed my shoulder and took the phone.

***

Chris

The footage of me as a creature and then turning back to a man burned into my eyeballs. I had watched it so many times, but it didn’t matter. I couldn't get over it. Trying to figure out what I was… It would make me go mad. Nick and I were still waiting for Juliet and the cousins to return from their meal. I needed to speak to Juliet in private. Have a very long talk with her… I heard a phone ring, and then I heard Nicholas. The conversation wasn’t going well. Nick was raising his voice, hitting his cane on the floor. I heard him clunking along the hall on his way to me. I stood up and hurriedly went out to him. His face was taut, and his manner anxious. I had never seen him like that before. “Put the call on speaker,” he said, handing me the phone.

I heard Francis speaking. Jack was actually giving an opinion, and Juliet was crying... Only a few sniffles in the background. I feared something terrible had happened on their outing. I didn’t like it when she cried. “Juliet… What’s going on? Are you okay?”

“Juliet! You really can’t go alone. Let’s wait and call your parents and your uncle. They will know what to do,” Nicholas tried reasoning with her.

I had missed what was going on… again.

“I won’t be the cause for Louis dying or being taken to the compound,” she said, exasperated. Louis? When did he come back into the picture? “Either you let Jack take me. Or I disappear, and I’ll call Marcus to come and get me himself.”

Marcus? I mouthed to Nicholas with questioning eyes. He was quiet, rubbing the nob of his cane, “Why don’t you take Chris with you?” Nicholas tried one last time.

“No! Under no circumstances can he come anywhere near Marcus. Then…” she scoffed and gave a sardonic chuckle, “I will die. Louis will die. And then Chris will kill them all….”

I didn’t understand what the hell happened Friday. Why was everything such a freaking mess? How could she think I would kill a bunch of people… creatures, or whatever?

“Okay… Okay, Juliet. Let me talk to Jack.”

Jack came online in the background, “Off speaker, Jack….” It took a second.

“Yes, Grandpa?”

“Take her… But I’m sending Chris….” he whispered, “Under no circumstances can she go anywhere with that man! We will never see her again.”

The words made goose flesh run across my arms, “If it comes to that, interfere, stall, do whatever you have to… I will call everyone I know.”

“I understand,” Jack hung up the phone.

The words and the fear behind them had found their way to the pit of my stomach. This was serious. It had something to do with Juliet disappearing forever or getting killed, and Nicholas was sending me. In what world was I going to save her?

“Who is Marcus?” I held my breath. I didn’t really want to know. The following few words out of his mouth would change my life.

“It’s her husband,” F— sake! Did I hear that right? I think my heart did stop that time… “Cruel militant man that branded her, and now she is stuck under his hand forever.”

I took in a breath to control myself, “Bran..ded... What do you mean?” My voice pitched, fearing that it meant what I thought.

He sighed… “Like a cow… Come on, Chris. You have to go. Let’s hope seeing her like that will make you manifest.”

I wasn’t ready, but I didn’t think twice, “Take the other car in the garage and don’t stop,” Nick said as I reached the front door. I didn’t even get dressed. Bare feet, I ran for it. Drove like I never had before.

***

Louis

Juliet was on her way. I had to listen to the conversation. Marcus really had no ill intentions towards her. Nevertheless, he was planning something… I read his thoughts… It was more a regretful, anxious mess than anything else, or he was governing himself. He had left me in a cage. Had not, as I thought, tortured me for information on anything he deemed necessary. When the first security guard hurriedly entered the room, I knew something had happened. Mr. Big Guy walked into the vault with me, and the door closed behind him. I wouldn’t be able to hear anything or tell Juliet to get out of there. And Marcus’s bargaining chip was sealed away.

***

Juliet

As Jack parked at the hotel entrance, three cars were already outside waiting for us. Five people per car got out when they saw us. I was thankful for an uncle who loved me as much as mine did. I figured they had to be vampires and friends of his. A middle-aged, short, and stocky man approached me. He was friendly and reassured me that they were there to help. Nicholas had also asked some werewolves to come. In the end, it was a small army.

A woman waited for us at the door and murmured to one of the werewolves. They seemed to know each other. She led us through the revolving doors and towards the elevator. After that, we had to make our way over a dancefloor. The bouncers didn’t hesitate, glanced over the men, and rested their eyes on me. The one quirking an eyebrow. I shrugged. I didn’t know I was that important, either. Our last barrier was down a carpeted corridor. The manager swiped her key card and hurriedly shuffled away. I was in the back of the crowd. My army stepped over the threshold, and I heard Marcus’s voice, “Welcome, ladies and gentlemen. So many of you!?”

I swallowed hard, thinking about what would happen. I glanced down at my person. Tried to straighten my clothes and suddenly cared what I looked like. I still had on my slacks and the white shirt. The same outfit I had on, going to Chris’s house. The thought that I wasn’t good enough crossed my mind. The whole party entered the room and made themselves comfortable. I had stayed in the hall—just standing there.

Marcus spoke again, “Where is the person you are all here to safely escort?”

Everyone looked back to the door. My eyes cast down to the ground, gripping the chain around my neck, playing with the little plate with my fingers. The hotel lobby music wasn’t helping. Some DJ mix of Choi Bella and the song made my mind race.

“Come out, Julie. I have no desire to hurt you. How can you think that I would want to?” I scoffed at his arrogance, frowning at the endearing way he spoke to me. Hated his pure unwillingness to either accept who he was or he really just wanted to talk—I couldn’t be sure. “You have so many friends here that it’s almost impossible anyway.”

There it was… The “almost impossible.” The fear of going back to the compound nearly made me leave Louis where he was. My heart was pounding. What was I doing? I felt breathing in my neck. My head tilted to the side, exposing the flesh. My shoulders relaxed. My eyes slowly closed. Chris smelled a certain way. The warmth of his breath came closer to my skin. I remembered him kissing me in the car. I would do anything for him to touch his lips to mine—comfort me. Chris’s hands rested on my shoulders in a friendly manner, squeezing softly. Not at all the way my boyfriend would touch me. He turned me slowly and gently took the chain out of my fingers. He looked at the plate and read the words.

“Louis?” he asked. There was no smile.

Our appearance was like a pair of hillbillies. My flip-flops, his bare feet, and a button-down wrinkled shirt half tucked in. Dark green corduroy pants rolled up at the ankles. I knew it shouldn’t have bothered me. Chris was there, and it was all that mattered. His lack of style and elegance was one thing that drew me to him. His down-to-earth manner and soft brown eyes.

He lifted my chin with a finger so our eyes could meet. Like the thousand times we had looked at each other... searched for each other on the school grounds. That feeling when we found the other. No spoken confession. Only the knowing that there was something there played in both our features. It was comfortable and reminded me of better days. He took my right hand with his left and held me tight. With the other hand, he cupped my face and rubbed his thumb over my cheek. The comfort I needed. Something a boyfriend would do. Reassurance that everything would be okay. Slowly, he pulled me into the room… I didn’t want to.

***

Chris

Juliet’s reception to me had changed entirely, from cold to her kissing me so hard Saturday to exposing her neck to me just now. She wasn’t shy around me anymore. Treated me like an equal. Something had changed in our relationship—somewhere. She knew I was there before I was even close to her. And I touched her without fear or feeling like I was violating her. I still didn’t understand why… Or what had happened. The way she looked at me… Like she had looked at me a thousand times in the months before we met. There was something special between us in how this all started. We had noticed each other and searched for the other before anything else. It felt like we would know when the other wasn’t around.

I had to drag her around the corner. She was pulling back, trying to stop me. The sight that welcomed us was that of at least thirty people standing in a half-circle around one man. He was sitting on a big wooden table with a red inlay. He perched himself up with hands next to him. His feet crossed on the floor, his shoes shining. The picture he painted was rather formidable but was too businesslike for Juliet. He was dressed in style.

In comparison to him and the rest of the room… Juliet and I looked rather sad. The feel of her little hand in mine, gripping so hard, made none of it matter. She had interlaced our fingers, holding on to me as if I was the safest place in the world. Marcus stood when I stopped halfway across the room, walked closer to us, and cussed a few times when he saw the stitched-up scratches on her arms—the bruises. He said something in another language and had his own minor meltdown like so many of us had.

Juliet was staring at him. Marcus spoke to her in that other language, and she shook her head. She was not from around here. I didn’t know anything about her and her life. This was her husband. I had never seen her that compliant and wondered if the branding had any supernatural stronghold on her. He came closer, stretching out a hand to her, palm up just like Jerry in the garden. My jaw clenched. Effortlessly, I guided her in behind me.

Marcus’s body stiffened as he played with his tongue over his teeth. His prize was lost to him. His head snapped at me with something in his eyes that I couldn’t place. His hand was still hanging in the air. The rest of the room growled at him for even trying. The werewolves manifested immediately, and I had to do all I could to not crap my pants. Juliet left my hand and gripped my shirt in the small of my back. I could feel her stepping closer to me, fisting my shirt. I had never had anyone cling to me as she did. And no matter what, I wasn’t going to let anything happen to her.